Missy Franklin is still entered in the 200 free and 100 back on Thursday at Pan Pacs, but USA Swimming has not declared that a final decision yet. Progression in her health status does sound positive, though.

Ledecky started out her race obliterating the World Record pace, but that’s what you have to do in any comparison to Pellegrini in 2009 – she was negative-splitting or at least very-nearly even-splitting everything during that period, and so the “yellow line” closes in a hurry.

Ledecky, though has just enough endurance to close, and has really developed the front-end speed that she needs to get out ahead of this record. While Ledecky’s speed is what has been improving, it’s interesting to note that she’s still nowhere near as fast as Pellegrini was in the 200 free during this same time period. So it’s the combination of speed and endurance that got Ledecky this record.

Incidentally, Ledecky also broke the American Record (3:59.82), the U.S. Open Record (3:59.89 – from prelims), the 17-18 National Age Group Record (3:59.82), and the World Junior Record (3:59.89 from prelims) in this swim.

Ledecky becomes the first woman to hold the 400, 800, and 1500 meter World Records in long course simultaneously since the 1980’s when Janet Evans had all three (and held some of them for a really long time).

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder of SwimSwam.com.
He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming.
Aside from his life on the InterWet, …